A move to watch:
Bytedance, the owner of Tik Tok / Douyin, has hired Feng Weihao, a former executive at Alibaba who was responsible for the operation of WESG, an esports event started in 2016.
Last year the company hired former Tencent staff with esports experience.
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Bytedance, the owner of Tik Tok / Douyin, has hired Feng Weihao, a former executive at Alibaba who was responsible for the operation of WESG, an esports event started in 2016.
Last year the company hired former Tencent staff with esports experience.
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Gaming is a strategic vertical for tech companies in China as it is a key way to generate additional revenue from a large audience. Bytedance has established itself as a leader in short video and is now building multiple game studios by acquiring experienced game developers.
Feng Weihao will act as the global head of gaming content for Bytedance with the aim to grow the gaming content ecosystem on Tik Tok and across all other Bytedance products.
Leverage these already popular platforms to acquire users for its games and other game related content.
Leverage these already popular platforms to acquire users for its games and other game related content.
The company has already had success with smaller casual titles that generate revenue via in game ads, but is now turning to more core titles through self development + Licensed titles.
One of its first competitive / esports titles was JJ Street Basketball. Mixed results so far.
One of its first competitive / esports titles was JJ Street Basketball. Mixed results so far.
ByteDance has already started making moves into esports.
Tik Tok sponsored several esports tournaments, including the TikTok Cup in cooperation with the Collegiate Starleague (CSL) in the United States and the League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) in South Korea.
Tik Tok sponsored several esports tournaments, including the TikTok Cup in cooperation with the Collegiate Starleague (CSL) in the United States and the League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) in South Korea.
Furthermore, TikTok is also cooperating with several esports teams to further solidify its branding with esports gamers. In 2020, they launched partnerships with EVOS Esports in Southeast Asia and Infinity Esports in Latin America.
Bytedance isn't just developing games.
Bytedance isn't just developing games.
As Tik Tok and Douyin expand, adding live video content, there is further opportunity for Bytedance to expand into the livestreaming space, which has been a key growth driver for esports in general.
Acquisition of esports content and talent could be in the pipeline.
Acquisition of esports content and talent could be in the pipeline.
Bytedance has a long way to go before it has a solid position in the gaming / esports space, but the potential is there.
We're planning to release our new 'Esports in Asia' report next week with market size data and analysis.
Will be available here:
nikopartners.com/data-reports/
We're planning to release our new 'Esports in Asia' report next week with market size data and analysis.
Will be available here:
nikopartners.com/data-reports/
